Experiencing God As Your Provider

Learning to live open-handed in a tight-fisted world

Sermon from cong. readings in Exodus 28-38 – Feb 15, 2009 bk@kluth.org

1 – Principle of kingdom living vs. worldly living

Matt 6:28-34 Why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

1 John 2:15-16 Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God; 16 for all these worldly things, these evil desires-the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance-these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself.^TLB

2 – Principle of financial freedom vs. financial bondage

Definition: Financial freedom is the ability to build your life on Biblical financial principles and to trust God to guide you and provide for you all the days of your life.

Prov 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. Rom 13:8 Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others-never finish paying that! ^TLB

3 – Principle of provision vs. money

Phil 4:19 My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Ps 50:10-12 Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

Prov 13:22 A sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

Job 27:16-18 The evil man may accumulate money like dust, with closets jammed full of clothing-yes, he may order them made by his tailor, but the innocent shall wear that clothing and shall divide his silver among them.^TLB

4 – Principle of enjoyment vs. ownership

1 Tim 6:17-18 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

5 – Principle of multiplication vs. calculations

John 6:5-13 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets.

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1-YEAR-BIBLE DAILY READINGS: Lev 24-Num 9, Mk 10-13, Ps 44-50